A mum is fed up of her "cheeky" and "unapproachable" neighbours continually using her driveway to park their car.
The mum lives in a ground floor flat which comes with its own driveway, which she uses to sit outside on during warm summer evenings, and also to hang her clothes out to dry. Her new neighbours live in the flat directly above and have taken to parking their car on her drive because she doesn't have a car of her own.
But the drive belongs to the mum. Taking to Mumsnet's Am I Being Unreasonable (AIBU) thread, she sought advice on how to handle the situation - and also wanted to gauge whether she was in the wrong for being irritated by their use of her driveway since she herself doesn't have a car to park there.
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In a post titled "[AIBU] To not want their car on my driveway?", the mum described the living situation and penned: "My doorway/driveway gets a lot of direct sun so I like to dry my washing out there on racks when the weather is nice. I also like to sit out there on a chair with a cold drink and a book sometimes.
"A few months ago a family moved into the flat above me and have taken to parking their big people carrier on my drive. They didn't ask my permission, just assumed they were entitled to because I don't have a car. My frustration is when their car is there I can't put my washing out, it also blocks a lot of the sun. They park it diagonally as well which is a PITA [pain the a***] for me getting my pram in and out.
"They are out there at the minute cleaning and hoovering the car about 3ft away from my doorstep so I can't sit out and enjoy the sun/a bit of peace and quiet. AIBU to be unhappy about them using my drive in this way? The poll results will determine what, if anything, I say to them."
The mum's post was met with heaps of responses from fellow Mumsnet users, keen to offer their insight. One said: "Omg how cheeky of them. Do they know it's your drive? Go round with the deeds and tell them to get off."
Another said: "I'd tell them to stop it ASAP. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to stop it if you ever do have a car or want your own guest to park there. You wouldn't let someone pitch up a tent in your back garden so why would you let someone park a car in your front garden?".
A third suggested: "Tell them it's your private driveway and they don't have permission to park there and to move their car. If you haven't told them there may simply be a misunderstanding."
And another said: "Why have you let them park there? You've kind of created the problem, maybe they think its theirs? Basically tell them to stop parking on your driveway".
In one reply, the mum confessed she hadn't actually discussed the situation with her neighbours yet. She said: "I haven't to be honest no, they don't seem very friendly least of all the man."
Another Mumsnet user said: "Have they assumed it's a general parking space? Where should they park? In the past few months have you never sat out or put your washing out, that they could see? I think you're perfectly reasonable to want to use your own driveway."
And another added: "I'd tell them that you've noticed that they find it convenient to park on your drive so you'd like to offer them the opportunity to formalise the arrangement and can allow them to continue using your drive for £150 per week. You will ensure that no one without permission parks on your drive for them by purchasing a clamp that will get used on any car that doesn't pay."
In a further follow up comment, the mum explained how she planned to deal with the situation following the advice of her fellow Mumsnet users. She said: "Thank you for the replies. I wasn't sure how people would see it given that I don't have a car myself, I thought perhaps some might think I'm being petty and entitled when I don't actually need it for its intended purposes. I've just sent an email to my landlord, he isn't their landlord but has liaised with the property manager a few times who oversees all of the flats."
She then added: "I've had a quick chat with my landlord who asked me to put it all into writing and he'll get onto the project manager first thing Monday morning thus saving me the need to address it myself. Cowards way out absolutely but they don't seem at all approachable and I don't want to get into any rows.
"I'm popping into town shortly so I'll have a look in Wilko for the planters. Thank you for the replies, I'm glad I posted as I was sitting on my hands thinking I was being unreasonable."
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